Retail and restaurant chains that opened in Toronto this year include massive (and luxurious) department stores, fast casual eateries and everything in between. We had an influx of new stores to shop at and places to eat, with plenty more on the way for 2017.

8th and Main

This Vancouver import opened up a massive location on Yonge Street, bringing with it affordable clothing and accessories for both women and men.

Barber & Co.

It seemed like Vancouver made its mark on Toronto this past year. This barber shop on Ossington is also from the West Coast. 

Belfast Love

In continuing with the Van City trend, upscale pub Belfast Love is the Donnelly Group's first Toronto venture. It's the same company that brought Barber & Co. here.

Bite Lip Lab

Bite's based in the GTA, but the first Bite Lip Lab - where you can design a personalized lipstick - opened in New York City. Now there's finally one in Toronto.

Doomie's

There's another Doomie's in Los Angeles, but this Parkdale spot has left on mark on the neighbourhood with its over-the-top vegan treats.

Gyu-Kaku

This Japanese barbeque chain has more than 600 locations around the world. This one on Church Street is its first Toronto outpost.

Jinya Ramen

Jinya's part of a Japanese-owned, but LA-based ramen chain that's bringing big bowls of noodles to Toronto.

La Diperie

This Montreal mini-chain joined Toronto's soft serve crave by bringing its mini and massive dipped cones to the Danforth.

Nordstrom

Nordstrom made its Toronto debut at both the Eaton Centre and Yorkdale this year. Both stores are huge and also quite stunning.

Potbelly Sandwich

Head to this fast casual chain from the States for subs, salads, soup and of course, cookies.

The Local

There's another Lululemon men's store in New York City, but this one on Ossington is the Canadian chain's first in Toronto.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue's first Toronto store is pretty swanky. It's filled with designer clothes, shoes and accessories and is lots of fun to browse through.

Saks Off 5th

Bargain hunters can head to this Saks offshoot in Vaughan Mills for discounted designer items.

Shinola

Shinola caused quite a stir before it moved into the Stussy space at Queen and Ossington. But now, it seems to be fitting in to the neighbourhood quite well.

Simons

This Quebec department store finally opened near Toronto this year, bringing with it both brand name goods and its in-house fashion lines.

The Alley

If you're looking for creative bubble tea in a laid back environment, head to The Alley in Markham. It's part of an up-and-coming Taiwanese chain.

Tsujiri

Ever since it opened, this Japanese matcha shop has been attracting lineups for its desserts and lattes.

Uniqlo

Uniqlo opened in Toronto this year and naturally, the city went wild. It's been packed since day one. 

VdeV

This Montreal design and homeware store opened its second location on Toronto's Ossington Avenue.

Warby Parker

While it used to be solely an online optical business, Warby Parker's opening retail stores, including one in West Queen West and another in Yorkdale.

This Toronto Instagrammer got her first DSLR camera last year, and she thinks it changed her life. Before then, she experimented with black and white film, but after going digital she's developed a real passion for photography.

Aneta Iwaniszczuk, or @anetkaiwa, has more than 13,000 followers and by shooting Toronto, she's realized how gorgeous the city, and its skyline, truly is.

A photo posted by Aneta (@anetkaiwa) on Sep 22, 2016 at 1:06pm PDT

"I think it’s really beautiful," she says. "And whenever I post a picture of Toronto, everyone in the world compliments it and says, 'Oh my God, you guys are so lucky you live in Toronto, it’s such a beautiful city.'"

A photo posted by Aneta (@anetkaiwa) on Sep 19, 2016 at 1:05pm PDT

While Aneta's account is filled with skyline shots, she's hoping to branch out into street photography, although she admits she's still a beginner in that realm.

A photo posted by Aneta (@anetkaiwa) on Oct 2, 2016 at 10:51am PDT

"I would like to learn how to shoot the vibe of the city," she says. "So not so much the urban landscape, but maybe the city itself. I would like to focus on that a little bit more."

A photo posted by Aneta (@anetkaiwa) on Oct 11, 2016 at 1:08pm PDT

During the nine-to-five grind, Aneta works in marketing analytics. Photography helps her stay creative.

A photo posted by Aneta (@anetkaiwa) on Oct 14, 2016 at 2:13pm PDT

"I found that it was such a great passion for me. I think that I needed more of an artistic outlet in my life and when I started working on it, I couldn’t stop. I wanted to learn more, I wanted to try more things, I wanted to buy new lenses, I wanted to travel now with my new equipment and it connects you globally."

A photo posted by Aneta (@anetkaiwa) on Dec 2, 2016 at 9:19am PST

When she ventures outside of the city to shoot more natural landscapes, she'll often slow down her shutter speed to give her photos a mystical quality.

A photo posted by Aneta (@anetkaiwa) on Dec 21, 2016 at 11:48am PST

But she doesn't only travel in Ontario; this past year she also spent time in the States and Europe. Through Instagram, she was able to connect with other photographers, including one in Berlin who took her to parts of the city she doesn't think she would've ever discovered on her own.

A photo posted by Aneta (@anetkaiwa) on Dec 12, 2016 at 12:34pm PST

Even in Toronto, she understands the value of the Instagram and photography community and often gets inspiration and feedback from her contemporaries. She also finds Toronto's photography galleries educational.

A photo posted by Aneta (@anetkaiwa) on Oct 13, 2016 at 2:01pm PDT

Online, she curates the Instagram account @thedarkpr0ject, which is part of pr0jectuno with Inspades Magazine.

A photo posted by Aneta (@anetkaiwa) on Oct 22, 2016 at 9:22am PDT

But in the real world, she usually shoots alone and often on King Street near the St. Lawrence Market and the Gooderham Building, which is around where she lives.

A photo posted by Aneta (@anetkaiwa) on Aug 23, 2016 at 12:22pm PDT

And she's often drawn back to the CN Tower and the skyline. "We probably have one of the nicest city skylines in the world, so we can take shots of Toronto from amazing vantage points, like the Islands or Polson pier. And we have four seasons, so it’s really hard not to take photographs when you live in Toronto."

What should you do with your unwanted holiday gifts in Toronto? Instead of hiding them at the back of your closet, do something good and donate your perfectly good presents this year. Or, swap them for an item (or two) that you really, really want.

Here's where you can swap and donate your unwanted gifts in Toronto.

Bunz

After Christmas, Bunz will probably be flooded with trades. But on December 28, the group's hosting a regifting event at the Social Capital Theatre where you can swap presents and see a comedy show all at the same time.

CardSwap.ca

This Toronto-area company lets you trade in your giftcards for cash, but you can also choose to donate part of the cash value to non-profit organziations, including the Canadian Red Cross and the Covenant House.

Free Geek

This organization will pick up and refurbish your unused electronics. It'll then resell them at affordable prices in order to spread computer literacy around the city.

ReUseIt

This City of Toronto guide should be your go-to resource if you're looking to donate anything. It features a map of all the organizations in the city that accept donations so you can choose one appropriate for you.

Skate to Great

Donate gently used skates (including figure skates) and hockey equipment at StorageMart or Play It Again Sports. Skate to Grean will then arrange to have them donate to organizations in need to give all children a chance to learn to skate.  

Skittles Holiday Pawn Shop

Swap your unwanted presents for Skittles at 277 Queen Street West. Gifts in good condition will go to the United Way Toronto and York Region.

The Sharing Depot

Toronto's first library of things accepts donations of new or gently used tools, camping and sports equipment, board games, toys and house party supplies.

Toronto Public Library

Most Toronto Public Library branches have Book Ends used book stores, which accept books in good condition that are less than five years old. The TPL also accepst CDs and DVDs.

Toronto Tool Library

The Toronto Tool Library has three locations and they all accept donations. Just make sure your tools are new or great condition.

Value Village

While ReUseIt lists lots of place to donate clothes, it's always easy to drop off your unwanted garments at one of Value Village's many Toronto-area locations.;

It might be a slushy mess in Toronto right now, but that's all the more reason to take a moment to think about the new parks we'll get to enjoy come better weather. While we'll have to wait for news on massive projects like Rail Deck Park and Don River Valley Park, a host of smaller green spaces are set to open in 2017 and 2018.

Here are 5 new parks opening in Toronto next year and beyond.

Berczy Park

It was hoped that the revitalized Berczy Park would open in early fall, but the official opening date was pushed back to next year after some delays installing the final features. It has, however, partially reopened giving those passing by the Flatiron Building a glimpse at the new design. Designed by Claude Cormier, the highlight is the massive new dog-adorned fountain at the heart of the park.

Grange Park

Another park that's reopening after a major makeover, Grange Park will be unveiled sometime in the spring. When it's fully open, there will be a new entrance to the AGO, walking paths, a brand new green space to the east of existing park towards OCAD's campus, and the relocation of Henry Moore's "Two Large Forms," which currently sit in front of the AGO.

Dufferin Peel Park

This is a small park near Dufferin and Queen that will begin construction in the spring when Metrolinx has wrapped up work on the nearby railway overpass. Despite its size, it will be a major boon for an area that's witnessed a huge influx of condo residents over the last decade but relatively little added greenspace, save for what might be the worst park in the city. An official name will be bestowed in the new year.

Dr. Lillian McGregor Park

Currently private land owned by Lanterra Developments, when construction wraps on its Wellesley on the Park condo project, the adjacent green space will be donated to the city of Toronto as Dr. Lillian McGregor Park. This one is not expected to be completed next year, but we should get an idea of what the final design will look like. The site has been vacant for over two decades, so the prospect of green space here is very exciting. 

Sony Centre Plaza

In fairness, this is more of a plaza than a park. Neverhtheless, it will provide a signficant upgrade to the grounds of the Sony Centre, which seem to have been under construction forever. Also designed by Claude Cormier, it will add to the revitalized area around Front St. that also includes Berczy Park. You can expect public art installations and green elements to be unveiled in the spring.

Today in Toronto you better keep the holiday partying going because Solaris, the city's winter electronic music festival, continues tonight at Rebel. Okay, there's definitely some calmer events scheduled as well, but if you need to dance before the end 2016, now's your chance.

The biggest restaurant flops in Toronto this past year include everything from casual snack bars to fine dining establishments. Despite the initial buzz surrounding these places, they all opened and closed with a short period of time.

Here are my picks for the biggest restaurant flops in Toronto from 2016.

Angelo's Coal Fired Pizza

After about five months in business, the Italian-American pizza joint from Boston suddenly shut down. Former employees blame the closure on in-fighting, though the location might have played a role.

Bar Mar

This Peruvian and Spanish-influenced tapas spot on Mount Pleasant got lots of great hype, but it unfortunately didn't last long in Toronto.

Boil King

Seafood boil restaurants might be super popular in Toronto right now, but this spot at King and Peter looked like it couldn't take the heat and closed down fairly soon after it opened. 

John Conrad

Along with its sister restaurant Littlefish, John Conrad in the Junction shut down this past March. Its life was short-lived.

PO Box 1192

This snack bar took over the Leslieville Rock Lobster space in October 2015, but closed down six months later after defaulting on its rent.

Reforma

This Mexican restaurant in Baldwin Village stuck around for only four months. It opened at the end of 2015 and shut down in February of this year.

Smoke's Burritorie

Smoke's burrito restaurant opened in the old Burrito Boyz space, but never attracted quite the same following, even after it introduced a slew of wacky menu items, like poutine and spaghetti burritos. 

Spiceman Mexicana

This restaurant at College and Clinton opened at the tail end of 2015 and shut down well before 2016 came to a close.

Teara Lab

Teara Lab served up sandwiches inspired by Japanese flavours. But this restaurant on College across the street from U of T lasted only a few months.

The Wine Swine

The Wine Swine replaced Le Papillon on the Park, but after a few months in business, it shut down "due to circumstances" beyond the owners control. A craft brewery is slated to replace it. 

Free things to do in Toronto this January won't let you rest after the holidays, but will give a break to your wallet. There are several major design festivals, a pants-free subway ride and an outdoor art project.

Here are my picks for the top free things to do in Toronto this January.

55 Old Forest Hill Road is rarity: a stately mansion with huge grounds right in the heart of the city. With multiple sides with no neighbouring homes, the privacy here is unparalleled. You could imagine an old school mafia family residing here or a reclusive millionaire who wants more than anything not to be disturbed.

The house is designed with in an elegant manner that befits the location. There's lots of wood to warm up rooms that are genuinely massive, and while the whole house is certainly over-the-top, there's no one feature that seems gaudy. 

This is, however, the epitome of luxury. There's an indoor pool, the en suite is a full blown spa, and the master closet looks almost like a second kitchen with its centre island.

Someone with very deep pockets will land here. And while there's a possiblity to sever the land, I doubt prospective buyers will be looking to flip a quick buck of a unique property in this city.

SPECS

• Address: 55 Old Forest Hill Road
• Price: $,8,800,000
• Lot Size: 140 x 141 square feet
• Bedrooms: 6
• Bathrooms: 6
• Parking: 7
• Walk Score: 43
• Transit Score: 74
• Listing agent: Elise Kalles
• Listing ID: C3669482

NOTEWORTHY FEATURES

• Indoor pool
• Outdoor gas firepit
• Massive lot
• Three-car heated garage

GOOD FOR

Bruce Wayne wannabes. This would be a perfect place to set up a bat cave in privacy. With six spacious bedrooms, it would also accommodate a wealthy family.

MOVE ON IF

Obviously if you don't have the money. You can get houses of this size for much less money if you venture further from the centre of the city. If you don't need a lot this size, there might not be any point. The Walk Score, for instance, is terrible.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Thanks to Bosley Real Estate Ltd, Brokerage for sponsoring our House of the Week. All content and editorial selected by blogTO.

New Year's Eve parties in Toronto will help you usher in 2017 in style but what if you don't want to go somewhere too far from home. Avoid all the cab and Uber drama, and find something close to you to ring in 2017.

Here are my picks for the top New Year's parties in Toronto by neighbourhood.

There might not be the added incentive of a major event like the Pan Am Games to drive Toronto megaprojects to completion in 2017, but the city and surrounding area are still set to witness the opening of a number of high profile projects that will reshape the urban landscape. 

Here are five to look forward to.

Spadina Subway Extension

This is the big one. After nearly a decade of construction and numerous delays, the extension of Line 1 to Vaughan is expected to open by the end of 2017. No one will appreciate this news more than members of the York University community.

407 East Extention to 418

The eastern extension of the 407 all the way to the 35/115 won't be completed until 2020, but the project is slated to reach a major milestone in 2017 as the toll highway opens to the 418 (East Durham Link). That should help commuters and cottage-goers who want to avoid the mess that is the 401 from Ajax to Oshawa.

Copeland Transformer Station

Wow, this one has taken a long time. Toronto Hydro's massive new transformer near the Rogers Centre was originally expected to open in 2014, but the final stages of construction will only wrap in 2017 as the surface level construction site finally gives way to a public plaza. The transformer, which is up and running, fuels much of downtown Toronto's power needs.

The Bentway

Still more commonly known as the Under the Gardiner project, the Bentway has an aggressive completion schedule that aims to see the first section complete by July 1. This will only offer a glimpse of the entire project (which is expected to open in 2018), but will ensure that the space under the downtown expressway will be usable as fast as possible.

One Bloor East

The average condo wouldn't make a list like this, but One Bloor East is an exception based on a few factors, not the least of which is its height at 76 storeys (just shy of Aura for the tallest residential tower in the city). Also signficant is the huge amount of retail space the development will deliver to the hub intersection of Yonge and Bloor as well as the entrance/exit to the subway station.

It was another wild and wacky year in Toronto. From the horrifying to the astonishing, social channels like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter were filled with questionable photos, news of animal escapes and celestial events.

Here's a round-up of the most notable social media hits and blunders in Toronto from the past year.

La Carnita's Instagram

Popular Toronto taco joint La Carnita sparked a social media storm after they posted a Donald Trump inspired photo on Instagram. The image that was captioned, "What if Donald said, "grab her by the taco..." was promptly removed followed by a series of apologies.

Part 2. Once we realized our error, we quickly removed it. For anyone who saw it, know that we understand your anger

— La Carnita Ltd. (@la_carnita) October 12, 2016

Serpentine's #BlackFridaysMatter sale

Yorkville menswear store Serpentine didn't see a problem with promoting their Black Friday sale using the #BlackFridaysMatter hashtag. It was quickly condemned by Black Lives Matter Toronto for using their movement as a joke leading the store to issue a formal apology.

Graffiti Alley posts the world's longest Instagram photo

Local photographer Justin Poulsen documentation of Graffiti Alley resulted in the world's longest Instagram photo. Called Instatour, this Instagram-based project stitched together 1,300 separate posts into one continuous image.

Capybaras escape High Park Zoo

Like the infamous High Park peacock before them, two capybaras managed to flea their enclosure at the High Park Zoo. Social media erupted with hilarious parody accounts along with spottings of the mischievious animals. After weeks of searching they were found and returned to the zoo.

Any kindly neighbours with an outdoor tv we could borrow to watch the @BlueJays tonight? #OurMoment

— High Park capybara (@HPcapybara) May 24, 2016

Usain Bolt and Andre De Grasse bromance goes viral

The cutest thing to come out of the Olympics had to be the bromance between sprinters Usain Bolt and Andre De Grasse. After the semifinal race, social media erupted with hilariously adorable tweets, photos and memes of the track rivals.

A photo posted by @warrior_wookiee on Aug 17, 2016 at 10:32pm PDT

The Rogers Centre beer tosser

The Blue Jays may have won the game to land a spot in the ALDS but all anyone was talking about was the beer can tossed by a fan in the stands. A manhunt for the culprit was all over YouTube and Twitter as amateur detectives took screenshots and edited photos of the exact moment it all went down.

The internet blows up with Views memes

Moments after Drake revealed the cover art for his highly anticipated album Views, the internet was flooded with outrageous memes. Some of the best ones featured Drizzy on top of other iconic buildings.

.@Drake Views From The Sein pic.twitter.com/IjllIc2K73

— Seinfeld Current Day (@Seinfeld2000) April 25, 2016

Toronto goes gaga for the Supermoon

The biggest supermoon in the last 70 years rose over Toronto this past November. The event got both amateur and professional photographers out to capture the celestial event and lucky for us they shared all their spectacular photos on Instagram.

A photo posted by b o r a (@bora.vs.bora) on Nov 14, 2016 at 7:41pm PST

Toronto hunts down stolen dogs

Toronto banded together once they heard the news of a dogwalker's van being stolen with over a dozen dogs inside. Twitter and Instagram were flooded with messages and photos urging citizens to keep an eye out. Eventually, the van was found and the dogs were returned to their owners safe and oblivious to the ordeal they were wrapped up in.

#Toronto - My dog walker's van was stolen w my dog from Fort York Blvd. White Ford Econoline AM34530. Pls 📞 TO police if you spot them. & RT pic.twitter.com/Ab4F3UpNMW

— shannon loves tv (@shannonlovestv) November 18, 2016

The Goodyear Blimp soars over Toronto

Social media blew up with sightings of the Goodyear Blimp over Toronto this past September. It was the first time since 2007 that the blimp has soared over the city and Torontonians turned to Twitter and Instagram to express their excitement and delight.

Goodyear blimp sighting! GOODYEAR BLIMP SIGHTING!!!!! pic.twitter.com/S7d1tpxt8F

— Jessica Eby (@JessicaEby) September 25, 2016

Today in Toronto it's time to get over the holiday feasting with a slew of events that don't feature jolly old St. Nick. The US takes on Slovakia in the World Junior Hockey Championships, and there's also a host of fun weekly game nights that make for the perfect Hump Day activity. 

All of the stores, restaurants, galleries, studios and bars in Toronto's Mirvish Village with shut down by the end of January. Already, artists and business owners are moving out; they're hauling all of their stuff to new locations or are closing up shop entirely.

Some - like the Butler's Pantry with its newcomer's brunch, for instance - are using their final days on Markham Street to leave their mark on the city. Others are taking advantage of New Year's Eve to throw one final party, ensuring they don't go down quietly.

“It’s nice to go out on a bang. I don’t want to go limping out the door. I want to have good events, I want to have good times," says Lucan Wai who owns The Central.

Along with hosting a week-long series shows before he dims the light on his nearly ten-and-a-half-year-old bar and music, he and his team are throwing a big New Year's Eve celebration.

It'll include two different dance parties with 90s tunes and hip hop as well as appetizers and a champagne toast. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

Wai says lots of former staff members and patrons are planning to come out for one last hurrah.

Afterward, The Central will remain open until the end of January, afterward, Wai hopes to move some of The Central's programming over to his other Toronto spot, the Smiling Buddha.

There's another big New Years party happening a few doors down at Southern Accent. It'll mark the Cajun-style restaurant's final night on Markham Street.

"And although it’ll be sad, we have to look forward, right? It’s a new year and we have a new spot that we’re going to that is pretty neat," says Frances Wood, who opened Southern Accent in 1984.

She's moving the restaurant to 839 College St., and hopes to imbue it with the same quirky and vintage vibe it has in Mirvish Village.

For New Years, she's throwing a house party-type event with lots of finger food, drinks, dancing and live music. While she says she won't move the next day (she and her team need to nurse their hangovers), they'll probably make their way to College Street a few days later.

"I feel like we should just go out with a big party," she says, "and then make the move to the other place."

The rumour that Drake is dating J Lo has reached fever pitch after the Toronto rapper posted a photo of the two of them canoodling on Instagram. Jennifer Lopez put up the same picture last night.

Neither party has confirmed they're dating and apparently they might be working on music together. Some say this photo is all part of a public relations plot, yet other have pointed out that Rihanna unfollowed J Lo on Instagram after the photo went live. 

Drake has been unofficially linked with a number of sports and music superstars this year, including Rihanna, Serena Williams, and Taylor Swift.

Here's how the internet reacted to the latest Drizzy pics.

It was a landmark year for sports in Toronto — one of the best ever even in the absence of a championship. The Blue Jays and Raptors had epic playoff runs, a homegrown tennis star rose the ranks, the TFC fought their way to the MLS finals, and well the Leafs, the Leafs got Auston Matthews.

Here are my picks for the top 5 Toronto sports highlights of 2016.

The Toronto FC advance to finals

The TFC had a historic playoff run and one of the biggest highlights was when they defeated Montreal Impact to secure a spot in the finals. It was a thrilling 5-2 extra time win that had fans going bonkers in the pouring rain.

And thats the game! @torontofc wins 5-2!!! #tfc

A video posted by blogTO (@blogto) on Nov 30, 2016 at 6:47pm PST

Auston Matthews scores four goals in debut home opener

Auston Matthews had a historic first regular season game for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored a whopping four goals in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators. Yes, that's right, he scored all of the Leafs' goals in his very first game.

Game Number 1️⃣. Goal Number 4️⃣. Auston Matthews with his fourth of the night. #TMLtalk #StandWitness

A video posted by Toronto Maple Leafs (@mapleleafs) on Oct 12, 2016 at 6:08pm PDT

Lowry's buzzer shot

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals the Raptors were down by three, but as the buzzer was about to strike Lowry flipped the ball from half court and swoosh it was in. This shot forced the game into OT and the ACC went nuts.

The shot. #WeTheNorth

A video posted by Toronto Raptors (@raptors) on May 3, 2016 at 7:48pm PDT

Edwin Encarnacion's walk-off homer

This one may feel bittersweet after Eddy just signed a deal with Cleveland, but his three run homer against the Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card game was one of the most exciting moments of this year's playoffs.

@encadwin: “SEE YOU IN ARLINGTON,” definitely! #OurMoment

A video posted by Toronto Blue Jays (@bluejays) on Oct 4, 2016 at 9:05pm PDT

Milos Raonic beats Federer to advance to Wimbledon final

Milos Raonic made history when he beat Roger Federer to advance to his first Wimbledon final. He became the closest Canadian to win a men's singles grand slam title. As a result of his fantastic play over the year he earned himself a No. 3 ranking.

Milos Raonic shakes hands with Roger Federer after his semi-finals win on Day 11. #Wimbledon Photo: @bubblesontour

A photo posted by Wimbledon (@wimbledon) on Jul 8, 2016 at 9:59pm PDT

The galaxy got a little bit darker yesterday after Carrie Fisher, 60, passed away. Tributes continue to pour in for Fisher who inspired many, especially after playing Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Tonight at 8 p.m., as the Canadian Press reports, the four Mirvish theatres in Toronto will dim their marquees in honour of the late actress.

@TIFF_NET@JohnVassal A very touching tribute to the late Carrie Fisher from our own Tiff Bell Lightbox. pic.twitter.com/4YGiiDHoO2

— John Vassal (@JohnVassal) December 27, 2016

Yesterday, the TIFF Bell Lightbox dedicated its marquee to Fisher."We'll miss you Carrie Fisher, may the force be with you," it read. 

TIFF continues to tweet out photos and memories of Fisher, including notes about her work as a Hollywood script doctor.

As the year draws to a close, it's time to think back and say a toast to Toronto's achievements in 2016. While we didn't witness the flood of megaprojects that the Pan Am Games brought the previous year, there were still plenty of developments worth clinking a glass to over the last 12 months.

Here's to the ways Toronto got better in 2016. Chin, chin.

We've boldly reimagined the future of our parks 

As Toronto's density continues to increase, it seemed 2016 was the year that we fully embraced a new vision for downtown parks. The wildly ambitious plan for Rail Deck Park is the poster example of this, but let's not forget the hugely important Bentway and Don River Valley Park developments, the former of which is slated to open partially as early as next year.

Our artists ruled the music world this year

Toronto was the centre of the music universe in 2016 and Drake was king. Also holding court at the top of the Billboard charts were the Weeknd and adopted son Justin Bieber. Let's not forget the epic years that Alessia Cara, Tory Lanez, and Shawn Mendes had as well. Gone are the days when local artists would struggle to find a following south of the border.

Our sports teams had an amazing year

Where to begin? While we didn't win a championship, 2016 was an amazing year for Toronto sports teams. The Raptors pushed the Cavaliers to the brink in the NBA conference finals, the Jays electrified the city with a nail-biting playoff run for the second year in a row, TFC made the MLS finals, and the Leafs' youth movement turned out to be the real deal.

It was the year of the bike lane in Toronto

Cycling infrastructure had a banner year in Toronto with the arrival of bike lanes on Bloor after decades of campaigning from biking advocates in the city. It's only a pilot project, but it was a huge deal. Still, Bloor wasn't the only major upgrade for cyclists. The separated trail on Bayview Avenue helped to make the Don Valley more accessible, and the city announced plans for even more ambitious projects in the future.

Our shopping scene got way better

It was a huge year for Toronto's retail scene, punctuated by the dual openings of Saks and Nordstrom. Beyond these giant, upscale department stores, Yorkdale opened a new addition with lineups at Uniqlo and Canada Goose, Shinola graced the foot of Ossington, Warby Parker became a major optical destination, and Vancouver's 8th and Main set up shop on Yonge St.

New hair salons in Toronto give city slickers a chic experience from the moment they walk in the door. From cute and classy decor to stylists that know their stuff, these new salons are the full package. Be in the know, because after all, your hair is your head suit.

Here are my picks for the top new hair salons in Toronto.

Lone & Co.

This hip salon near the Opera House on Queen East has stylists with over a decade of experience and specialists in curly hair. However, they say they love working with hair of any texture, and you’re sure to feel super cool upon even entering this ultra-sleek parlour.

Cowlick

A recent addition to the Bloorcourt neighbourhood, Cowlick is a quirky smaller salon that also features currently popular minimalist decor. There are discounts available from junior staff, and consultations are free.

Arcana

This colourful salon is a new fixture in the Junction right near the intersection of Keele and Dundas. Spot it by its cute neon sign and cool logo with lightning bolts, and cozy up in a chair for funky styles designed for all types of hair.

Hive and Hawk

The cheekily named salon opened this year in the burgeoning Junction Triangle. With a small space designed in a sweet boho style and stocked with eye-catching little products, this parlour has a personal touch.

Holdengrace

A classy new salon below residences steps from High Park, Holdengrace does everything from precise architectural styles to everyday cuts. They can do balayage, men's relaxer, men's reshading, brow tinting, and keratin treatments. 

Restaurants that we'd love to see come to Toronto would fill a void in the city's dining scene or at least offer us even more delicious eating options — because, to be honest, our food scene is already top-notch. Regardless, there's still room for more restaurants, fast food spots, and grocery stores.

Here are my picks for restaurants we want to see come to Toronto in 2017. 

The Cheesecake Factory

Even Drake loves Cheesecake, so it's about time this American restaurant, famous for its massive portions (and cheesecake), opened in the 6ix (sorry.)

In-N-Out Burger

When Torontonians head to California, they usually stop at this burger chain and Insta the hell out of their experience. Wouldn't it be easier if one just opened here?

Jollibee

It looks like this Filipino chain might actually make its way to Toronto next year. And after years of speculation, it's about time.

Ladurée

Vancouver got its very own Ladurée this past year. The Paris-based company makes delicate macarons and other French-style pastries. It's particularly famous for its salted caramel macarons and its pastel packaging.

Lou Malnati's

Toronto has great Detroit-style deep dish pizza, but we're seriously lacking in the Chicago department. Lou Malnati's has more than 30 locations in Illinois, and it's time it brought its 'za here.

Maoz Vegetarian

This veganchain from the Netherlands serves up a simple menu of falafel, salad, juice and smoothies. While Toronto's now home to plenty of plant-based eateries, we could always use another meatless on-the-go spot.

Max Brenner 

Max Brenner has a regular food menu, but it's all about dessert and chocolate here. There's lots to choose from, including chocolate pizza, a fondue tower and of course, chocolate sundaes.

Pret A Manger

There are Prets all over cities like London and New York. It's probably because it's so easy to grab a healthy-ish bite from this breakfast and lunch spot - it's like a convenience store filled with prepared salads and sandwiches.

Shake Shack

Another year has come and gone and we still don't have a Shake Shack. Perhaps 2017 will bring these burgers north of the 49th.

Xi'an Famous Foods

The hand-pulled noodles (well, all the dishes) at Xi'an FamousFoods are addictive. There are a bunch of locations scattered around New York City, but this mini-chain that serves up northwestern Chinese food needs to come to Toronto ASAP. Seriously.

What restaurants would you like to see land in Toronto next year? Let us know in the comments.

Winter staycation ideas in Toronto are perfect when you've overextended yourself over the holidays and have to give up on the dream of a tropical vacation. You might not be able to escape the cold outright, but if you cozy up at spa or stuff yourself at local restaurants, it'll feel like you've taken a break.

Here are 5 staycation ideas for this winter in Toronto.

Escape the cold at one of the city's nicest hotel spas

It's the ultimate staycation idea. Find a hotel in the city and unwind for a weekend away from home. The only way to top this idea is to add an immersive spa experience to the package, which is precisely what you can do at the Shangri-La. The Wellness package includes access to the spa and health club, a 45 minute Hammam Gommage treatment for two, a yoga class, and breakfast. 

Take a weekend to immerse yourself in the Don Valley

The Don Valley is every bit the winter wonderland come January. If you need to escape the city but don't have time to travel, use the Westin Prince hotel at York Mills and Leslie as your basecamp to explore the Don's network of trails. You can hike or snowshoe, but you can also cycle now that fat bikes are available at the Brick Works. Skip the hotel if you're on a budget.

Eat your way through Markham's incredible food scene

There's so much talk about the food scene in Markham, but it can be difficult to make much of a dent in sampling it all for Toronto folks without a car. Book yourself in at a central hotel and let loose at amazing lunch spots, cheap eats, Chinese staples, and Scarborough-Markham border destinations like Fishman Lobster Clubhouse. You could devote most of a day exploring the wonderful world of the Pacific Mall.

Stay in one of the city's oldest and underrated hotels

Tucked between tall buildings on Yonge just south of Colborne St. is the Hotel Victoria, one of the city's oldest dating back to 1909. This is a boutique hotel that's surprisingly reasonable in the heart of downtown Toronto. From here, you can hit up tourist spots that don't suck, check out some of Toronto's new shopping destinations, or just cozy up in your room.

Head to Europe without stepping on a plane

If your idea of a staycation is more adventurous and experiential than hunkering down in a hotel room, pick a major European destination like Paris and organize your day around eating and drinking at Toronto cafes, bakeries and new restaurants devoted to the region. It'd be cinch to do this breakfast to dinner routine for Italian destinations as well, including our newest restaurant offerings.